For the second time under head coach Trisha Ford, Texas A&M softball’s postseason aspirations came to a screeching halt in the Bryan-College Station Regional, as Arizona State’s Brooklyn Ulrich hit a walk-off grand slam in the fifth for a 9-1 run-rule win.
The Sun Devils wasted no time, jumping out to a 2-0 lead from Samantha Swan’s RBI single and Katie Chester’s sac-fly. After a quiet first inning, the Aggies responded with a base hit that scored a run in the top of the second, but Arizona State applied more pressure on Texas A&M’s pitching staff with a three-spot in the bottom of the inning.
With an opportunity to advance to the super regionals on the line, both teams were locked into a back-and-forth battle in the circle across the next three innings. In the bottom of the fifth, an error and back-to-back base hits set up Ulrich for an electric walk-off to end the game in run-rule fashion.
Texas A&M’s season ends in the regional, but it was another successful campaign for the Aggies. Ford led her team to a 38-19 overall record and a 16-8 mark in SEC play. One of the major factors preventing the Maroon and White from capturing more success in 2026 was the lack of consistent pitching. This year’s pitching staff ranked 12th in the conference with a 3.59 ERA and first with 62 home runs allowed.
There will be much revamping to do for Ford and the Aggies entering the offseason, after a disappointing showing at Davis Diamond over the weekend.
FINAL (5 inn.): Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 9
A walk-off grand slam ends the Aggies’ run in the postseason, while the Sun Devils advance to their 11th NCAA Super Regional.
B5: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Chester knocks a lead-off double to third base. She’s followed by a base hit from Avila, which puts Chester in scoring position with no outs.
End of T5: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Texas A&M falls in order in the top of the fifth. Brown has tossed two strikeouts and allowed just two hits across three innings pitched since entering the game in the top of the third.
End of B4: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
The Aggies force a quick 1-2-3 inning, but they have much work to do, down four runs entering the fifth at Davis Diamond.
End of T4: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Texas A&M has another inning of stranded runners and missed opportunities to chop away at Arizona State’s lead. The Sun Devils enter the bottom half of the fourth with a 5-1 advantage.
End of T3: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Kenzie Brown enters the game in the circle for the Sun Devils and immediately goes to work, shutting down the Aggies and leaving two runners stranded. A massive opportunity slips by without Texas A&M capitalizing, as they trail four runs in the third inning.
T3: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Texas A&M draws back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, forcing Arizona State to make another pitching change.
End of B2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
The Sun Devils add three more runs in the bottom of the second. Texas A&M trails by four runs in the regional final.
B2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 5
Arizona State extends its lead after Pond avoids a tag at home plate on a fielder’s choice back to Munnerlyn.
B2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 4
Swan records her second RBI of the game with a double to center field. Runners are on second and third base with one out for Arizona State in the bottom of the second.
B2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 3
More clutch hitting from Pond equates to another run scored for Arizona State. The Sun Devils have runners on the corners with just one out.
B2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 2
The Sun Devils lead their half of the inning off with back-to-back infield singles in between second and first base, just out of Edwards’ reach.
End of T2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 2
Texas A&M cuts the lead to a run with Allen’s two-out RBI single.
T2: Texas A&M 1, Arizona State 2
The Aggies have their first run of the game, as Allen comes through with an RBI single to center field. Texas A&M has runners on second and first base with two outs in the inning.
T2: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 2
Mathis records Texas A&M’s first hit of the contest. The base hit is followed by another single from Dement, which places runners on the corners with two outs for the Aggies.
End of B1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 2
Acuna popped up to conclude the first inning of the NCAA Regional Final, but not before Arizona State plated two runs to take an early lead over Texas A&M in College Station.
B1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 2
The Sun Devils add another run off Chester’s two-out sac-fly. Mejia reaches first base with a hard-hit single to shortstop, to give Arizona State runners on first and second base.
B1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 1
Swan drives in Windle with a single. Arizona State takes a 1-0 lead over Texas A&M in the first inning at Davis Diamond.
B1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 0
Arizona State has two runners in scoring position early, following Pond’s double. No outs in the inning for the Sun Devils.
B1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 0
Windle secures a lead-off single for the Sun Devils.
End of T1: Texas A&M 0, Arizona State 0
Quick 1-2-3 inning twirled by Laupee gets us started in the top of the first.
Almost time for some softball on ABC
Starting lineups
Texas A&M:
Arizona State:
What channel is Texas A&M vs. Arizona State on today?
The Texas A&M vs. Arizona State game will be broadcast nationally on ABC in College Station Regional. Madison Shipman (analyst) and Eric Frede (play-by-play) will be on the call at Davis Diamond. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App.
Texas A&M vs. Arizona State time today
The Texas A&M vs Arizona State game starts at 2 p.m. CT from Davis Diamond in Bryan-College Station
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO FOLLOW THE GAME
Radio: Locally Sports Radio 1150/93.7 The Zone
Social: Follow the @AggiesSoftball on X for updates
Internet: 12thMan.com / 12th Man Mobile app for live play-by-play
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ASU’s walk-off grand slam eliminates Texas A&M in NCAA Regional Final
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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